Beautiful white peach, Nashi pear and apricots are the most prominent characters on the nose. The palate weight is what most new world Pinot Gris' strive to obtain, full fruit but with overall balance that make this wine a must buy.
90 points RRP $33
Often over looked but beautiful as an aperitif or sweet dessert wine. this wine is fortified at 15.5% Alcohol but in balance. Sweet apricot, almond, and citrus with a hint of cinnamon on the nose.
Delicate on the palate with good weight and very well balanced with a little heat at the end.
88 points RRP$35.99
Every second wine bottles back label reads something like this "*insert name and grape varietal here* is a contemporary expression of terroir from *insert region*". The expression/term 'Terroir' a French word, for which there is no direct translation, is about every facet that directly influences the grape throughout its growing season. These factors include temperature, soil profile, native yeasts, amount of rain and sunshine, country where grown etc. you get the point. It still baffles me to read these wine labels that profess to have terroir driven wines when a) they irrigate the vines b) they inoculate juice with cultured yeast. Throughout the whole of New Zealand there are few vineyards that do not irrigate their vines. Irrigation dilutes the terroir characters that are drawn from the soil in any given season. The inoculation of grape juice guarantees completion of the fermentation process but negates all of the terroir characters that the wine marketers use so evocatively on the back label. Don't be fooled by what they say on the back label unless it says 'Native/wild/indigenous yeast'!
The French wine industry is in crisis but there are a few solutions that would certainly aid their survival. As well as the other posting ' Saving the French Wine Industry' I believe that each region should have its own Internet Wine TV channel. Imagine the consumer being able to access a dedicated wine TV channel for the region where their purchased wine comes from.
Languedoc-Roussillon Wine TV divulging information on the region, soil profiles, AC regulations and structure, permitted grape varietals etc. This producer - consumer interaction would certainly go along way for the consumer to understand the history and story behind the wines and its regions.
Alongside this, each region could employ a Social Media employee to produce information for the Facebook and Twitter community. This would enable the consumer to ask questions about the region and wine with quick answers and results.
Wine Vault Radio: Monmousseau 20-11-09 Radio Wammo Show, Kiwi FM | http://www.wammo.co.nz
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Jayson Bryant reviews Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau 2009 as the first video review in the world.
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Jayson Bryant gets to taste a 1988 Grande Annee Marc Brédif Vouvray on Wine Vault TV.
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We all know that the French wine industry is in a state of disarray. We have seen their marketing change along with their label design to try and appeal to the new world wine drinker. I really want to see that stop, and stop right now.
France is still the great wine making nation on the planet and will continue to be for some time providing they follow some simple rules.
Advertise in the right market: It is no good wineries advertising in wine publications, as it is very likely that the publication will publish an article on your region for anyway but advertise in publications where wine buyers don’t know your story/brand. The likelihood that a serious wine connoisseur doesn’t know about your region is remote. The different regions of France should advertise their region together. This not only makes advertising more affordable but each region will be better understood by the consumer.
If Bordeaux were to advertise in January in non wine publications in the US, then advertise in UK in February, Australia in March etc and all of the Appellation Controlees (AC’s) rotated their advertising spend this would keep French wine at the tip of everyone’s tongue for the year.
Don’t change your labels: This is a very important lesson as once the consumer is comfortable buying wine they will start to experiment. Through good regional marketing and presence within the marketplace buyers will be more educated and make more informed decisions. When most wine these days is bought in supermarkets it is difficult to get help in making the right buying decision. With labels that look trustworthy and are distinctive they are more likely to be bought by the novice.
One consideration for the French wineries is to put the grape varietals used in the wine on the back label so as not to dilute the old world style that we believe is superior but whatever you do don’t make your labels new world looking as they look cheap and nasty and no one will buy them unless the are the cheapest in the shop and even then people will be suspicious.
Make traditional styles of wine and do not make new world styles: The new world is already making sweet red and white wine and there is no need for more to enter the marketplace. Carry on making traditional wine styles with indigenous grape varietals and as the new world’s palates change the wines you make will be sought. People will increasingly seek different styles and as we mature as drinkers we seek alternative styles and interesting wines.
A lot of new world wine is starting to taste the same so do not make this mistake. Celebrate your differences and regional styles.
Wine Ambassadors: Each and every wine buying country should have a government French wine ambassador promoting French wine. This then adds a unique point of difference and really sets you aprt from all of the other countries in wine promotion.
Speak to retailers about wine labels and sales not necessarily marketing departments as they just want to be creative!
New Zealand's most passionate wine guy, star of Wine Vault TV. Video blogger and all round nice guy.
